Telephone disinfecting device.



PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904:.

W. 1-1. ROSE. TELEPHONE DISINFEGTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3. 1904.

NO MODEL.

w m a X X My qwitme/gow Nrr STATES Patented. December 13 190 1.

ArnNT rFIcE.

TELEPHONE DllSlNFIECTlNG: DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,310, dated December 13, 1904a Application filed Sop-terrific 3, 1904. Serial No. 223,263- (No model.)

land, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Disinfecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in a device for disinfecting the mouthpiece of a telephone to avoid the spread of disease.

It comprises a cap fitting over the mouthpiece of the transmitter, said cap being provided with a fabric which extends over the mouthpiece and a receptacle for disinfecting material and means for holding the device upon the transmitter. The cap is provided with an opening registering with the opening of the mouthpiece, and the fabric extends between these openings and is preferably protected by a fine-wire screen.

The invention will be fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of a telephonetransmitter with the disinfecting device applied thereto and shown in section. Fig. 2 is a front view of the disinfecting device, and Fig. 2-3 is a view of a modified clamp for holding the disinfecting device on the transmitter.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the telephone-transmitter, and 2 the mouthpiece thereof. These parts, as shown, are of the design in common use; but they may be of any desired design or construction.

The disinfecting device comprises a vessel or casing a, which is preferably circular and provided with a conical wall 3, an inturned flange 4, adapted to fit over the outer edge of the mouthpiece 2, and a deeper inturned flange 5 on the larger end of the vessel and adapted to fit against the transmitter. The flange 4: surrounds an opening which is substantially of the size of the opening at the outer end of the mouthpiece,and across this opening is preferably fixed a wire-gauze diaphragm 6. l/Vithin the gauze diaphragm 6 is a fabricdiaphragm 7, preferably of felt, although any suitable textile material may be employed which is preferably united to or integral with a fabric 1 lining 8, extending around the inner surface of the conical wall of the casing (r. A ring or packing 9 of fabric is preferably connected to the outer surface of the flange 5 to prevent possible rattling or noise caused by contact of the vessel or casing (t with the transmitter and also to protect the transmitter.

The disinfecting device may be held in place on the transmitter by any suitable means. I preferably use a series of spring-clips 10, which may be connected directly to the conical wall of the vessel a, as shown in Figs. .1 and 2. I may, however, connect similar clips 11 to a sheet-metal ring 12 or make them integral with said ring, as shown in Fig. 3, the ring being adapted to engage the vessel a, and the clips adapted to engage the back of the transmitter and hold the parts together WVhile in some instances a dry disinfectant might be used with my disinfecting device, I prefer to use a fluid.

It will be seen that a considerable amount of iiuid may be held in the receptacle formed by the flange 5 and the conical wall 3 of the vessel or casing a. The device may be charged by first dampening the lining 8 and diaphragm 7 and then pouring into the vessel or casing a an additional amount of the disinfecting fluid, as shown at 13. The diaphragm 7 will be kept moist through the capillary action of the fabric, which will act as a wick. The vessel is closed excepting at the front opening, and evaporation will therefore be slow and the disinfectant will only need renewal at long intervals. 1t will be evident that the device will hold the disinfecting fluid in any position in which it may be placed on the transmitter. Experiment has shown that the fabric diaphragm 7 does not in any way interfere with the use of the telephone. The parts may be fitted together so that the diaphragm 7 will be clamped between the outer flange 4: and the mouthpiece 2. \Vhen the lining 8 and the diaphragm are formed in one piece or in separate pieces connected, the diaphragm will be held in place satisfactorily without being clamped; but it is preferable to so proportion the parts that some pressure will be exerted upon the diaphragm between the fiange land the mouthpiece. ,The wire-netting 6 may be either separate or permanently attached to the vessel or casing 0.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A telephone disinfecting device comprising a circular casing adapted to fit over and surround the telephone-mouthpiece and having an opening adapted to register with the telephone-mouthpiece, a felt or textile diaphragm extending across said opening, and a receptacle for disinfecting material.

2. A telephone disinfecting device comprising a vessel or casing adapted to fit over the telephone-mouthpiece and having an opening registering with said mouthpiece, a receptacle for a fluid disinfectant within said vessel or casing, a fabric diaphragm extending across the opening in said casing, and a portion of fabric connected with said diaphragm and ex tending into said receptacle, whereby the diaphragm is kept moistened by the fluid in said receptacle.

3. A telephone disinfecting device comprising a circular vessel or casing open at its ends and adapted to fit over the telephone-mouthpiece, said casing having inturned flanges at its ends, in combination with a fabric diaphragm extending over the telephone-mouthpiece, and a fabric lining extending around the inner surface of the casing, and connected with the fabric diaphragm, for the purpose set forth.

4. A telephone disinfecting devicecomprising a conical casing adapted to fit over the telephone-mouthpiece and provided with inturned flanges at its ends, wire-gauze and fabric diaphragms extending across the smaller end of said casing, afabric lining conforming to the conical portion of said casing and connected with the fabric diaphragm, and means for holding said device upon the telephonetransmitter. I

5. A telephone disinfecting device comprising a casing or vessel adapted to fit over the telephone-mouthpiece, a fabric diaphragm extending over said mouthpiece, a receptacle for disinfecting fluid with which said diaphragm communicates, and clips for holding said device in place upon the telephone-transmitter.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VVILLIAM H. ROSE.

Witnesses:

BERNARD A. SCHMITZ, FRANK M. MERRIKEN. 

